Program Spotlight

Intern "abroad" in the beautiful and diverse archipelago of Hawaii!
Experience the unique Hawaiian culture, explore the amazing natural
environment, and
gain exceptional experience through a customized internship.

Intern Abroad Countries

Program Spotlight

Are you a first-time traveler? Culture, literature, or film buff? Interested in
taking a study-travel course that takes you to amazing cities in England and
Scotland and throughout the historic countryside of Ireland? Then look no
further!

Why CISabroad

We’ve got diverse educational opportunities. Want semester courses in entrepreneurship or digital media when you study in Sydney? Want an internship and a Global Leadership certificate? Whatever you need, we’ll help you find a match- you can do it all through Semester in Sydney.

We’ll help you make the most of it. At CISabroad, all our advisors have studied or lived abroad. We love Australia, from rugby to kangaroos to shows in the Sydney Opera House! We’ve been there, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

We care about the environment. Your round-trip flight to Sydney will be offset by the work of CISabroad’s environmental partnerships around the world. You can study abroad in Australia and take care of the earth as well.

Program

Picture yourself spending the semester Down Under, in the largest city in Australia. As a semester at Macquarie University student, you‘ll immerse yourself in all that Sydney has to offer while studying at Macquarie University. A wide variety of innovative classes and an activity-packed Student Union and Sports Association means you’ll find your fit. You will experience:

Dynamic international student body – With over 8,000 international students from 100 countries, you’ll make tons of friends from Australia as well as other international students.

Historic Sydney – Take a bike ride across the Harbor Bridge, walk in the botanical gardens, and watch the sun set behind the iconic Sydney Opera house.

Innovative curriculum – Macquarie University is well recognized for its high-quality teaching and research, and its unique parkland campus.

Exciting extracurricular options – From the Global Leadership Program (where you’ll hear interesting speakers and attend cultural workshops) to Ultimate Frisbee and touch footy, you’ll never want for something to do. These opportunities are perfect for meeting other students who will help you study in Sydney.

CISabroad Adventure Orientation – Start off your semester with a 4 day/3 night orientation exploring the Great Barrier Reef! This orientation will provide you with a unique look into Australian culture and its iconic wildlife. You will have the opportunity to explore the rain forest, indigenous communities, and the largest tropical coral reef system in the world! You'll also be able to cross holding koalas, snorkeling, and feeding kangaroos off your bucket list!

Excursions

During our CISabroad Welcome Orientation, you’ll have the chance to see some surrounding areas for a few days before your classes begin! All spring students will enjoy a fun filled exciting orientation in Sydney and learning life as a local. All fall students will head to the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia for an adventure filled orientation before heading back to Sydney for the start of the semester.

When you arrive in Australia your site director will provide you with a detailed schedule of events for your orientation. CISabroad orientation is a chance for you to explore Australia, meet your on-site staff and fellow CISabroad Australia students. It's a a great start to your semester and a quick way to integrate into the culture!

Academics

Semester in Sydney at Macquarie University offers two 14-week semesters, beginning in July and February. The University has 4 faculties (colleges): the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Business and Economics, the Faculty of Human Science, and the Faculty of Science. Within those, you can choose from over 70 academic areas. So long as you have the prerequisites, you can take pretty much any class you want.

GPA Required: 2.5. If you find your GPA is lower than the requirement, do not despair! Use the "Contact An Advisor" button on this page or call us to let us know your situation. We'll do all we can to find the right program for you.

How to choose your coursesNow the fun part! As part of the application process you will be required to complete the CISabroad Course Selection Worksheet found in the CISabroad Application Page. The following instructions will guide you through the steps of choosing your courses.

Course load: 3–4 classes (12–15 US credits)

Course approval: It is best to get 7–8 classes approved before you go abroad. This gives you some flexibility in setting up your class schedule. Think about courses required for your major, but also courses that fulfill your elective requirements.

How to read the Macquarie University course catalogYou will find classes offered at the 100, 200, and 300 levels. The 200- and 300--level classes at Macquarie are often equivalent to junior- and senior-year classes in the US. They will likely have prerequisites.

NEW Study Abroad Certificate

Enhance your study abroad semester at Macquarie University with a Study Abroad Academic Certificate. Select the courses that most interest you to enhance your experience both on and off campus. Choose from the following list of specialised electives and this certificate will be written on your transcript!:

Location

The gateway to Australia, Sydney is renowned as a dynamic and cosmopolitan city that combines culture, history, and beautiful scenery! Sydney is Australia’s largest and oldest city with a multicultural population of nearly 4 million. Its location along the south east coast of the Tasman Sea makes it one of the world’s most stunning harbors, fringed by easy-to-reach sandy beaches. Famous for its World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House, Sydney is one of the world's favorite cities—some say it’s the greatest! The restaurant and café scene is enhanced by outstanding fresh, local produce and world-class wines. The sunny, moderate climate contributes to a relaxed lifestyle.

Around Sydney are 5 major national parks with 8,000 square kilometers of open space. This includes the world’s second oldest, Royal National Park. Sydney has a reputation as an international center for commerce, arts, fashion, culture, entertainment, music, education and tourism. It has been the site of many world events, including the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Sydney has an enjoyable temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters, making it the perfect place to explore the city or hit the beach! With its wide range of cultural, historical, culinary, and sports opportunities, Sydney is an ideal location for international students.

The University

Our Semester in Sydney program is located at Macquarie University. Founded in 1964, Macquarie is accredited by the Department of Education and the Employment and Workplace Relations of Australia. Its graduate school is AACSB-accredited. Macquarie is ranked in the top 2% of universities in the world by Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities.

It’s the only university in Sydney with its own subway stop: you can hop on a train any time and be in The Sydney center in about 20 minutes. Since its establishment, this innovative university has been a pioneer in Australian education. It is known internationally for groundbreaking research in the earth sciences, laser physics, linguistics, and education.

You will find all you need located right on the Macquarie campus. There are restaurants and food shopping centers, a hospital, health and fitness center, library and much more. During your first week, or “O Week” you can take part in activities and entertainment offered by the university. There are plenty of student groups and sports clubs to join to further enhance your study abroad experience!

Macquarie has 31,200 undergraduate students, 10,000 of which are international. It strives to remain among Australia’s top 8 research universities, with hopes to continue improving their reputation through a collaborative approach with some of the world’s leading companies located in the universities research park. Macquarie University is committed to excellence in teaching and global citizenship, making it a great environment to learn during your semester abroad.

Student Life

On Semester in Sydney, you will take part in the 4-day CISabroad Adventure Orientation. Exciting excursions by the beach and city introduce you to Aussie life! We’ll prepare you for the cultural difference you may encounter and give you a chance to meet other CISabroad students heading to study in Australia

When you arrive at Macquarie University, staff from the International Office will take you through an on-site orientation program and help you with anything you need. The University has a bustling campus, so there's always plenty going on between student clubs, activities, sporting events and trips both near and far. There is a huge shopping center across the street, complete with grocery stores, a movie theater, and an ice-skating rink.

Getting out and about to meet new people is so simple at the University. The active Sports Association and Student Union can get you involved in waterskiing, squash, netball, tennis, rock concerts, and market days. You will also find a travel agent, a salon, and a variety of places to grab a bite. Don’t forget to check out the library and computer facilities!

One of our favorite programs at the University is Meet a Mate @ Mac, which puts you in contact with current students before you even leave for Australia. This way, you can chat with someone already on campus while you are gearing up to go. We also love the Global Leadership Program, which comprises a series of lectures and seminars that get you thinking more globally. The best part? The program is completely free, and you walk away with a Global Leadership Certificate.

Housing

The Macquarie University Village townhouses offer single rooms. Twin (shared) rooms are available for students who are traveling together and request to live together. You may not apply for a twin room unless you apply with the name of your requested roommate. The Village offers a social atmosphere and modern amenities, such as a student lounge, outdoor entertainment area, ping pong, internet cafe, and volleyball court. Coin-operated laundry is available on-site. All apartments are fully-furnished and include spacious living and dining areas, a porch, plenty of storage, and ample study space.

These apartments are about a 25-30 minute walk to a grocery store, as well as a large shopping center, complete with its own grocery store, a movie theater, and an ice-skating rink, where you can purchase all of your daily necessities. And since the University has its own subway stop, you can hop a quick train into the city any time you want!

In-Country Support

CISabroad’s Site Director in Australia:

Queensland Area Site Director/Country Director

Jackie was born on the Central Coast, NSW (on the coast half way between Newcastle and Sydney) and now lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Jackie holds a Masters in Communication (Corporate Communication) from Bond University, QLD and a Bachelor of Social Science (Recreation and Tourism) from Newcastle University, NSW. Jackie has a passion for travel and education having worked, lived and studied overseas.

As an undergraduate student Jackie studied abroad at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, upon her return from the US, Jackie kicked off her career in international education working in student support and admissions at the International Office at University of Newcastle. Later relocating to Denver, CO for two years she lived and worked in the international education sector, enjoying weekends snowboarding and hiking in the Rockies – simply incomparable to the ‘mountains’ in Australia! Upon returning home she took on a support role for US students studying in Australia and New Zealand before moving into various marketing and management roles focused primarily on project management, business analysis, large scale events and strategic planning.

Interests: Yoga, jogging, the beach, hiking, family adventures, thinking she can still snowboard and of course – travel.

Jackie will welcome you to Australia and will be available to students for activities, emergencies, issues or simply to discuss any concerns around your program. You will be introduced to her prior to the start of your program – so you will know who you are meeting when you land down under!

Charlotte loves working as CISabroad’s Regional Site Director in Sydney. She is studying for her Masters of Environment and also works within the International Office at Macquarie University to facilitate their student exchange programs. Charlotte’s passion for education abroad began when she participated on a semester exchange in Dublin as part of her Bachelor degree. Since then, she has travelled at every opportunity, including two life changing volunteer programs to Peru and Morocco. In her free time you can find Charlotte lazing around the beach, or dancing around the live music scene in Sydney. She loves to show students the smaller, quieter niches of Sydney life.

FAQs

1. What is the cost of the program? What is included in the program fees?

The program cost for Semester in Sydney can be found on the Price and dates page.

2. When are the program fees due?

The program fees for Semester in Sydney are due on December 31st for Spring programs and June 1st for Fall programs. CISabroad will email invoices to students approximately one month before the program payment deadline. For example, if your payment deadline is July 15, you should expect your invoice in mid-June. If you are using financial aid, please ensure all financial aid paperwork is returned to our office by the payment deadline. If your financial aid does not cover your entire balance, CISabroad accepts these payment methods.

3. What is due with my application and when is my application due?

The application process can be broken into easy steps!

The first step is to fill out the online application, which includes your contact information, what program you are applying for, etc. (Only takes five minutes!)

After filling out the online application, an advisor from our Global Advising Center will grant you portal access with a set of preliminary forms.

The next step is to pay the $200 application deposit in order to secure your space in the program. This amount will be applied toward the final cost.

Within a day after submitting your deposit, you will receive a welcome email from your Program Coordinator—the person you will work with until departure. Your Program Coordinator will then give you program specific items in your portal. (Note: Both preliminary portal pieces and program specific tasks must be completed by the application deadline.)

#CISabroadTip: Contact your school’s registrar and have them send us your transcript early on in the application process (you can send us your transcript even before you’ve made the $200 deposit!) since snail mail makes this the slowest piece to submit. (We do also accept electronic OFFICIAL transcripts if your school provides them.)

4. Do I need a passport or visa? When should I apply for my passport/visa?

For Semester in Sydney, you WILL NEED A PASSPORT. Your passport must be valid for 6 months BEYOND the date you return to the United States. For detailed passport instructions, U.S. citizens should check the State Department's Travel Site. For Semester in Sydney, you WILL need a visa. You will receive specific visa instructions once you have been accepted to the program.

5. Is there a GPA requirement?

Yes! For Semester in Sydney, the GPA requirement is 2.5. If you find your GPA is lower than the requirement, do not despair! Use the "Contact a CISabroad Advisor" button on this page or call us at 1-877-617-9090 to let us know your situation. We'll do all we can to find the right program for you.

6. What are my housing options?

For Semester in Sydney, you can live in either the university-sponsored, off-campus apartments - a 15-minute walk (or less) from the center of campus - or, for an additional fee, the on-campus apartments, which have both shared and single room options.

7. Will other students participate in the program with me? How many?

CISabroad programs are not only a great way to meet local and international students, but also students from around the United States. Program size varies each year - if enrollment size is important to you, contact a CISabroad advisor at 1-877-617-9090.

8. How many credits are offered in the program?

You will take 3–4 classes (12-15 U.S. Credits). To see the courses available, go to the course catalog.

9. Can I combine this program with another CISabroad program like intern, summer, or semester abroad?

Yes! A great way to extend your CISabroad experience is participating in another program. Combine semester programs to create a full academic year or if an academic year is just a little too long and a semester is too short, combine a semester and summer session or a semester and January term program. You can also participate in a semester abroad and combine that with a summer intern abroad. To find out more information on the application process for more than one CISabroad program, contact a CISabroad advisor at 1-877-617-9090.

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Program Testimonials

"The academic supervisors at Macquarie were so helpful. During my semester I interned with a company as a Business Analyst researching the London and New Zealand market. My experience in Australia has been truly unforgettable!."